I wish I had hair
 

...so I could rip it out.

I am using AOL (yes I know, please don't judge me) and I have a wired computer connected to the router and a wireless one.

Up until the last day or so the wireless connection has been fine, no problems. However it's been dropping the connection - not the broadband but the wireless. I keep getting the notification that it's local access only, not the usual local and internet. All the while, the wired computer is absolutely fine. It doesn't happen all the time, sometimes the wireless machine will connect for hours, other times only for about 10 minutes at a time.

I've been speaking to those wonderful people in their Indian tech support and they honestly have not got a clue. They've blamed my extention cable, my filter, my wired computer, anything they can - and those who haven't blamed it on that sort of thing have simply hung up on me.

So over to you guys, can anyone help? The router is a Netgear DG834 and normally works well.

Re: I wish I had hair
 

Do you have a different router you can try Russ?

Re: I wish I had hair
 

That's the only one I can get hold of atm - I'm thinking it could very well be a dodgy router but I'd rather explore all other possibilities first.

Re: I wish I had hair
 

OK do you have another wireless device you could try connecting to see if it gets the same problem?

Re: I wish I had hair
 

My mate is popping down with his lappy later which has built-in wireless but knowing my luck, the problem won't occur when he's here. Like I said sometimes it can be connected for hours. Going on the very limited information I have it looks like I'm going to have to either wait until he comes and hope we can see it happening thing or I'll have to get another router - I'm reluctant to do that as it's going to be £30+ to find out it might not be the problem. Thank the Lord for Cash Generator, they're normally a tenner there :D

Re: I wish I had hair
 

I know a stupid question but have you tried:

1# changing channel
2# resiting the router

Just that it sounds like interference from perhaps a 3rd party so either one might help

Re: I wish I had hair
 

I tried changing the channel last night as a last resort and it seemed to be still the same, although saying that the problem hasn't occured this morning....yet.

As for the router it's been rebooted more times than I can remember...

Re: I wish I had hair
 

Have you tried updating it's firmwire?

Re: I wish I had hair
 

If the wired network is remaining steady, but the wireless isn't that does point to something with your router / wireless / wireless computer being at fault, not the internet connection service.

Worth checking the wireless computer for any updates to the network drivers and stuff too. Could any recent microsoft patches to windows made any difference?

Re: I wish I had hair
 

LOL, I said re-siting not resetting ;)

Re: I wish I had hair
 

I've gone futher than that - originally I was getting the problem (plus others) on Vista so I downgraded to XP and the connection issue remains. In fact on XP the computer takes about 30 seconds to pick up the wireless signal instead of straight away like on Vista.

Blame my lack of glasses...:angel:

---------- Post added at 11:23 ---------- Previous post was at 11:21 ----------

edit: interestingly, normally the usb wireless connection is 54mbps, just checked it now and it dropped to 36, and now it's 24 :confused:

Re: I wish I had hair
 

change the default broadcast channel

Re: I wish I had hair
 

I've already tried that - I spoke to 7 Indian people last night who took me through all kinds of interesting yet irrelevant diagnostics, but on the 8th attempt I got through to their Irish tech support and that's what they suggested. So far this morning it seems the problem has not occured....yet...

Re: I wish I had hair
 

If you use Hibernate or Standby a lot, reset your machine periodically. It can play havoc with the wireless capabilities.

Re: I wish I had hair
 

Do you broadcast the SSID? if so turn it off, change the SSID and dissappear.

<TinFoilHat>
its possible that someone is trying to brute force your wep key (if you have one)
</TinFoilHat>

I'd have gone for the interference on the channel though

onthe other hand if it continues you could always try here, at least you'll have something to pull out then ;-)